International Wine & Food Society |
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| York, Pennsylvania |
Enhancing the Intelligent Sharing of Good Food and Fine Wine Amongst Friends |
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On September 10, 1969, five men gathered in the name of "fine wine and gourmet food" for the first meeting of the York Chapter IW&FS. The charter members were Jacob Frank (President), Frank Senft (Vice-President), Gerard Melato (Secretary), John Munnell (Treasurer), and Charles Bowen (Board Member). Dues were established at $15 with $10 directed to the national organization. Wives attended the meeting as guests. Mr. Kenneth Marsh and Mr. Donald Hartranft were proposed as new members. The Inaugural dinner was held at the Lemon Tree Restaurant in Lancaster with Mr. K. Cyrus Milliken of the Philadelphia branch as a guest. Seven male participants paid $27.00 each for dinner, cocktails, wine, brandy, tax, and gratuity. The first tasting was held at Frank Senft’s farm in his tobacco shed. Subsequent dinners and tastings were held at the Lincoln Woods Inn, San Carlos, Accomac Inn, and at private residences. Obviously, the society prospered because membership grew quickly to 15, plus a waiting list. Yearly events included 2 tastings, 2 dinners, 1 picnic, and 2 membership meetings. To keep costs at a minimum, members brought their own wine glasses to the tastings and meetings (the branch purchased glasses in 1974). In 1973 a wine cellar was established and the positions of Wine Master and Assistant Wine Master were created. $160.00 was made available for the purchase of wine. The member equity fee was put into place. The first "bus trip" for the society seems to have taken place in 1976 with members traveling to Alfred’s Victorian Restaurant in Middletown. This excursion was followed by a trip to Ikaros Greek Restaurant in Baltimore, where members were entertained by a singer and guitarist. Tours of York County Wineries (Naylor, Stephan Bahn, and Allegro) became popular society events. A novel excursion took place to Chadd’s Ford Winery with the "business meeting held on the bus so there would be ample time to enjoy the winery." The question of joint membership for wives was suggested at the December 13, 1979, Executive Committee Meeting. Much discussion ensued - cost increment for joint membership, the branch’s involvement for the spouse, treatment of cellar equity, voting rights, willingness to hold office, and imposing branch dues on the spouse. It was decided that the matter be tabled until the following membership meeting! At the Annual Meeting in August of 1980 the by-laws were changed to create two types of memberships – joint membership and individual membership. Virginia Byloff was the first female member to hold office. She became the York Branch secretary in 1986. At this same meeting, in response to The American Cancer Society, the York Branch went on record in favor of York restaurants establishing non-smoking areas. In March of 1980 Malcom and Lois Schetky and Jack and Marion Schultz represented the York Branch at the International convention in Australia. Tastings were held in both Sydney and Melbourne. The couples graciously brought back Australian wines and a "Sampling of Australiana" was held at the home of David and Ann Shearer. Eight of our members attended the International convention in Vancouver in 1983, and we had representation at the 1984 North American Conference in Napa Valley. In June of 1980 Larry Heim became a member and now holds the distinction of being our "oldest" member. Larry became Secretary in 1982 and also held the offices of Vice-President, President, and currently is "Treasurer for life"! Larry was responsible for the "Gastronomic Times" – the forerunner of "Corks and Forks." Currently the branch has 25 members, and actively pursues at least five events annually – two tastings, two dinners, and the annual meeting. Please visit our website for additional information, paying particular attention to past newsletters. Bambi
Long, Historian |
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York, PA Branch of the International Wine & Food Society |
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